To make a cleaner break, Catriona will tell Darren’s parents that she and Grace are moving abroad to be with relatives. Maybe Australia or somewhere like that. She hasn’t worked out the details yet. She’ll say that reminders of Darren are too painful. At least that part will be the truth.

Catriona has never been the bravest person – Darren did all the organising for both of them, paying the bills and sorting out their finances, and she preferred it that way. That will have to change now. She’ll have to put herself out there. Get a job. Look into what benefits she might be entitled to in the meantime. All this feels so overwhelming. For the past four years, she’s been a stay-at-home mother. Darren didn’t mind the fact she wanted to give up work to be with Grace. She only earnt minimum wage anyway, as a cashier in the local supermarket. He was supportive of her wanting to be a full-time mum. Catriona stops what she’s doing for a second, angrily wiping away a stray tear. She couldn’t even do that properly. But there’s no room for self-pity. She has to learn to toughen up.

She’s already put a deposit down on a tiny one-bed flat. She hasn’t even seen the place in real life, but it looked okay online. One thing has come to light – she didn’t realise that Darren had a small life-insurance premium. She’s now due a small lump sum that will help her get started. No amount of money could ever replace Darren, but at least it will go some way to getting them settled in a new area.

‘Hey, Gracie. Shall we have a snack?’

‘Yes pwease.’ Her daughter’s voice is muffled inside the box.

‘Chocolate rice cakes?’ Catriona asks.

‘Yay! Chocowate!’

Catriona tapes up the box she’s been filling with cleaning products and Tupperware and wipes her hands down the sides of her jeans. ‘Come on then, let’s wash our hands.’ She opens Grace’s box, swings her up into her arms and kisses her soft cheeks, making her daughter giggle and squirm. She’s all hot and crumpled from being inside the box, but this only makes her ten times more adorable. Catriona is determined to become the best mother in the world. She will take perfect care of her daughter – cherishing her, nurturing her, making sure she has everything she needs. Grace will be her number-one priority, not just in thoughts, but in actions. Always.

‘Mummy, I have juice?’

‘Let’s have a nice glass of water instead.’

Grace wrinkles her pretty nose.

‘Better to have water, sweetie. You don’t want all your teeth to fall out.’